Adapted by:
Matías S. Zavia
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Alba Mora
WriterAn established tech journalist, I entered the world of consumer tech by chance in 2018. In my writing and translating career, I've also covered a diverse range of topics, including entertainment, travel, science, and the economy.
Starship has experienced its biggest setback in years, with two consecutive explosions raising concerns about the latest design improvements to the spacecraft. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently responded to these rumors, saying that his company will launch the world’s largest rocket to Mars next year.
“Starship departs for Mars at the end of next year, carrying Optimus,” Musk shared in an X post, referencing Tesla’s anthropomorphic robots. “If those landings go well, then human landings may start as soon as 2029, although 2031 is more likely.”
The proposed dates for the missions are optimistic but not arbitrary. Launch windows between Earth and Mars occur every 26 months, allowing for more efficient trajectories with lower fuel expenditure. The next launch window will open in November 2026.
SpaceX plans to send around five uncrewed Starships to Mars during this upcoming window. The spacecraft are expected to arrive at the Red Planet six months later. This is just before the target date for Artemis III, the first manned mission to the Moon since 1972.
Starship plays a crucial role in NASA’s lunar mission, making it the rocket’s largest public contract. However, Musk has previously said that the Moon is “a distraction” and that SpaceX’s priority is to colonize Mars. President Donald Trump later adopted the same goal, leaving the future of the Artemis program uncertain.
A leaked image of Starship 34 shows fewer engines due to the recent explosions.
Additionally, Starship isn’t currently performing at its best. In January, the 404-foot-tall rocket introduced a new version of its second stage, Starship Block 2. Since then, it’s suffered two consecutive flight failures:
- On Flight 7, the rocket experienced a “harmonic response” that led to a propellant leak, an engine fire, and, ultimately, the disintegration of the ship.
On Flight 8, an “energetic event” caused several engines to fail, losing control until the rocket self-detonated.
The second failure sparked a series of rumors questioning the ship’s redesign. First, an anonymous source leaked an image of Starship 34 (the version used in Flight 8) showing several missing engines after the explosion.
This same source suggested that the root cause of the problem was identical to that of the previous flight: vibrations in the fuel and oxygen tubes connected to the Raptor vacuum engines. This was a serious design flaw.
According to the leaker, these vibrations worsen as the fuel tanks are emptied after stage separation. When the tanks are full, the liquid dampens the vibrations. However, as the tanks empty, the vibrations increase to a level that can cause pipe ruptures.
If this is the case, the issue occurs in the engine compartment, a non-pressurized area of the rocket that SpaceX refers to as the “aft.” This part could be redesigned in future versions of the rocket.
Despite the swirling rumors, Musk said that Flight 8 was only a “minor setback” and that Starship would be ready to fly again next month.
Image | SpaceX
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